Fiji’s entrepreneurial landscape, especially for everyday Fijians striving to build a better future through small businesses, received a further boost with the launch of the Hummingbird META 2025 initiative yesterday at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Manoa Kamikamica says they are not just launching a programme but opening a bold new chapter to drive and strengthen entrepreneurship in Fiji.
The initiative introduces two key platforms – the Growth Starter System PLUS+, which offers practical business tools and access to funding, and the Hummingbird Certified Mentor Programme, a first-of-its-kind national network connecting budding entrepreneurs with experienced business leaders.
He says these initiatives speak to the national mission of building a Fiji where innovation thrives and no one is left behind.
According to the Asian Development Bank 2024 SME monitor, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises comprise 98.7% of all registered businesses and contribute over 64% of national employment.
Kamikamica says as Fiji emerges from the shadow of the COVID 19 pandemic, Government has laid down a determined goal to raise the sectors contribution to GDP from 18% to between 30 – 40 %.
He says from market vendors in Labasa to app developers in Suva, MSMEs are the heartbeat of our economy and the Ministry is focused on making it easier to start and grow a business in Fiji, through legal reforms, access to finance, and real-world mentorship. A preview of the Hummingbird Crowdfunding Masterclass was also revealed, which will equip MSMEs with the tools to tap into non-traditional capital sources such as peer to peer lending, donor funding, and diaspora contribution with support from the Reserve Bank of Fiji and the Asian Development Bank.
